Exhibits and Displays

At its home at 328 Quapaw, GCHS exhibits some of our historical holdings. In the reception area and in our rooms and halls, pictures, maps, and artifacts reveal the history of Garland County.

In the reception area, an antique display case showcases a changing display of local historical interest, such as photographs of the Garland County Courthouse through the years or photographs of African American residents circa 1900-1910. In shelves around the room, in addition to books and other reference materials, memorabilia of Hot Springs and Garland County history are displayed. A display cabinet in another room holds memorabilia that belonged to local historian Marcus Phillips.

Down the hallways and in many of the rooms are framed pictures, maps, and objects of interest—including Hot Springs’ city charter of 1876, an 1841 hand-drawn township map, and the Billy Stinnett collection of Civil War artifacts found near Chalybeate Springs in 1993.

Hot Springs: A Journey Through History is an on-going exhibit at the Convention Center comprised of approximately 125 photos supplied mainly by GCHS. The exhibit takes you on a photographic tour of Hot Springs through the decades.

GCHS maintains a set of display panels for use as a portable gallery (seen here displaying The Life and Times of Leo P. McLaughlin). McLaughlin was the colorful (and crooked) mayor of Hot Springs during the height of the gambling era (1927-1946).

GCHS creates exhibits for special occasions and locations—such as a diverse display of historical memorabilia and artifacts in the display case at the Garland County Public Library during the Department of Arkansas Heritage’s History Month.